The Burying Point (Salem, Massachusetts)

• Great Cultural Monuments
• 549

Salem, Massachusetts is infamous for its history of witch trials and executions, which took place during 1692 and 1693. The Salem area is now a popular (though sometimes macabre) historical attraction. The witch trials, however, are only a small part of a larger history, and Salem is also significant as an early American settlement dating back to 1626.

Salem’s Charter Street Cemetery, also known as “The Burying Point,” has links to many facets of the city’s early history. This scenic cemetery is the second-oldest in the United States, and holds the remains of one of the original Mayflower pilgrims. Also found on the grounds is the grave of Justice John Hathorne, a judge during the witch trials and the great-great-grandfather of author Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Scarlet Letter author added a W to his surname to separate himself from the legacy of his ancestor.

David Lanz is a Grammy-nominated composer and new age pianist who has been credited with helping to create the new age genre in the 1980s. A Seattle native, Lanz has also explored the rock and jazz genres and has released dozens of albums.

Links

Find a Grave: The Burying Point (list of graves in Charter Street Cemetery)
Official Salem Guide for Visitors
Official Website of Salem, Massachusetts
David Lanz Official Site